To gain more perspective into soils and water retention in container environments, I would suggest reading "Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention XVII", written and posted by Tapla, within this forum.

It's a great knowledge base from which to begin, in my opinion, and has helped numerous gardeners, including myself, understand their growing issues from the soil up, as it were.

The article talks in depth about soil and water in that confined environment from a scientific point of view, and how it relates to the needs of the plant's roots. Healthy plants begin with healthy root systems, and growing within the rather confined space of containers is vastly different than growing in the garden/ground.

When it comes to soils, Tapla is our resident "go-to guy"!

Happy Gardening!

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention XVII

Thanks for the link jodik, good information but making my own potting soil won't be an option in my new residence. After reading the post, I am wondering if Miracle Grow with moisture control is worth the price difference. I wonder what they use for moisture control. John

Here is a link that might be useful: John's Garden Journal

Do some research through the forum archives on Miracle Gro potting soils - I think you will find that consensus on this product is pretty poor and even poorer on the "moisture control" formulation.

The moisture control product most often used with commercial potting soils is acrylic polymer crystals (brand name, 'Soil Moist', 'Watersorb'), the same thing they use in disposable diapers.

One does not necessarily need to make your own to obtain a good quality potting soil. Sometimes it is just a matter of locating a good commercial base product (NOT the MG!!) and adding to it, either drainage enhancers like pumice, perlite or clay and/or texture and durability with bark fines.

Retaining water is what you want to avoid unless your schedule does not allow you to water plants often. Your mention of being able to water daily should alleviate the need for something like that, and watering almost any pot daily, especially one so big, and that has a predominance of peat or moisture control crystals in it is probably way too much/often. Does the dryer drum container have a hole in the bottom?

Some soils come with time-release fertilizer in them, so adding more can be too much. Could that be an issue?